Senators call for more safety in chemical plants

Boxer, Vitter: EPA officials hindering investigations

9:01 PM,
Jun. 27, 2013

Richard Webre, director of the Office of Homeland and Security and Emergency Preparedness for Ascension Parish, talks to audience members after a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on efforts to address chemical threats in the wake of explosions in Geismar and West, Texas.

Written by

Deborah Barfield Berry
dberry@gannett.com

Federal environmental officials may be hindering an investigation of an explosion at a chemical plant in Louisiana, Sens. Barbara Boxer and David Vitter said Thursday.

Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency also have been slow to act on recommendations to reduce risks at chemical plants, the senators said at a hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Thursday's hearing focused on what the EPA is doing to improve oversight of chemical plants in the wake of recent explosions at plants in Geismar and West, Texas. ...